Treasure Containers

Paul the Apostle is always such an inspiring individual to me.  To think today of someone being stoned to death and surviving, let alone to be beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, stoned and so on, and survive with a positive attitude ...WOW! 
II Corinthians 4:7-15  "7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.


13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[b] Since we have that same spirit of[c] faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God."

The analogy of the clay pot here is perfect for what we go through as Christians who are seeking to grow closer to God.  That lump of clay is softened by kneading it and mashing it and contorting it to get the air pockets out.  All the empty spots are removed and filled in with dense body.  Freshly harvested clay is pushed through screens to remove any small stones or other debris that might be in it.  If they were to shape a clay pot and then cure it in the kiln any debris would heat up and cause cracks or even cause an explosion destroying the pot.  A potter takes that clay and presses and contorts  the vessel until it looks like what he wants or how he pictures that clay to be.  Our heavenly Father puts us through tests and trials, molds us, makes us into what He envisions us to be.  Like a true potter, He never sees the clay for the shapeless lump that it starts out to be.  He sees us for what we will be in our final state, living in Glory with Him and covered in Jesus blood.

Verse 9 says "persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."  He never leaves us just sitting on the table to dry out.  He makes every effort to shape us into acontributing and usable vessel.  What is it that shapes is?  Trials and trouble are part of one of those things.  Blessings are others.  We often look at the trials and tribulations of life as the things that are shaping us but God often changes and molds us with blessings as well.  Do we remember more of the negative experiences we go through or the positive ones?  I am afraid that we often see more of the down side than the up side. Our blessings like children, sunsets, animal shpaes int he clouds, the first blooms of spring, a cool kiss on a warm forehead, a tender look,  a genuine embrace, the gift of laughter, and even the twinkle of an eye are blessings we can see every day if we want to and they make us who we are.

Be flexible.  Be moldable.  Become a vessel.

Man Plans, God Laughs

We spend so much of our lives dreaming dreams and making plans. How much time do we spend seeking God's will for our lives? God's dream for our life? My devotions this morning were about Joseph and how God redirected his life and through it all Joseph was faithful to God and "God was with him".

I have strayed, for sure, from the benevolent protection of my God. I have sought my own way. Yet, He changes my path around to go back in the direction He wants me to travel. Who knows how I would have gotten to where I am now if I had stayed on the straight and narrow road from the beginning. Yet, so many of the roads I have traveled have prepared me for where I am now. Having some time off in the winter prepared me for an entire fall and winter with a newborn in the house. I even babysat my boyfriends granddaughter one winter, which gave me insight to how children need to be inspired and stimulated and how very porous they are.

I spent another whole winter living on my own in an old house cutting and splitting firewood, stoking the fire and keeping the house, then got a job in the spring only to be laid off, which to me was devastating! I figured out how to make money by selling baked goods at a farmers market. I am interested to see what the Lord has in store for me now.

A career I can take my daughter with me to work. The ablility to use the talents and skills that He has allowed for me to develop. I am so interested to see what the next turn in the road will be. Thank you Lord for your grace and the hope you give us each new day. The opportunity to awaken each morning and have a new day full of possibilities. What can we do today? Look at your path and see what is it that the Lord is preparing you for? How is your life like that of Joseph in Genesis 39? Can you say the Lord is with you? Are you seeking Him first and then making your plans?

I love Proverbs 16:9 " A man's heart plans his way but the Lord directs his steps."